SYDNEY (Kyodo) Japan's first Western geisha, Sayuki, has revealed she is taking up a new role: lecturing on Japanese cultural studies at Keio University.

Australian-born Sayuki will teach local and foreign students about traditional culture from a foreign perspective and provide foreign perceptions of Japan.

During a recent trip to Australia, Sayuki said she is proud to be associated with the university, describing it as being at "the forefront (of) new and innovative ideas in education."